n8n Automated Execution Cleanup with Custom Retention Rules

This workflow automates the cleanup of historical executions in your n8n instance, whether cloud-hosted or self-hosted. It fetches up to 250 recent executions across all workflows, groups them by workflow ID, and retains only the most recent N executions (configurable, even set to 0 for full deletion). Older executions are deleted regardless of status, using only official n8n nodes and API—no direct database access needed.

Benefits include reduced database/storage bloat, faster UI loading, and improved overall instance responsiveness, ideal for users with dozens or hundreds of workflows where logs accumulate rapidly. It prevents performance degradation without manual intervention, saving time on maintenance.

Use cases: Production environments with high execution volume, development setups testing frequently, or shared instances needing periodic housekeeping. Setup requires a personal API key and n8n API credential with your instance's base URL. Run manually or schedule for ongoing efficiency.